Benoit held the Senate seat from 2006 to 2008 before losing it to Goodall. She announced in June that she would seek the seat.

After ousting incumbent Sen. Art Mayo in 2006 after Mayo switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, Benoit served one term in the Legislature before Goodall beat her in a close race in 2008.

Benoit owned a store in downtown Bath and was active in that city’s community and economic development activities. As a legislator, she worked to reform adoption laws.

The Aug. 27 special election will fill the seat of former District 19 Sen. Seth Goodall, who resigned on July 9 to become New England regional director for the Small Business Administration.

Democrats currently hold 19 seats in the Maine Senate, Republicans hold 15 and there is one independent. No Green Independent party candidate has ever won a Maine Senate seat.